An Emotional Appeal…
January 17th, 2007 at 9:16 pmAn important letter I received this morning from Lebanon, in response to my concerns regarding the disputed and vague numbers of how large the Jewish community truly is in Lebanon- something still of concern.
(Initial part of the email refers to the renovation of the main Synagogue in Wadi Abu Jmil in Beirut and prior discussion between us)
Email is as follows:
Yes, the text you pasted shows how nostalgic these people are; they still wish they could go back to the pre-war Beirut, and now they feel that almost everything that was familiar to them is gone. But this is only THEIR view, the view of those who have left Lebanon and who do not think they will come back. Maybe to visit, but definitely not to live there; some do not wish to visit even, because they are afraid to see the changes; they’d rather keep having the image of Beirut that they used to have when they left. But anyway, as I said, this is only the view of those who have LEFT the country. For those who have remained, for the older generation who lived the war from the first days, and had experienced the communal Jewish life prior to it, although Lebanon has changed a lot, it still remains their home. For the younger generation, the destroyed Synagogue stands like a ghost that reminds them of the vibrant community that used to live there, something that they did not experience, but still have a sense of nostalgia, from what they have heard from their parents, if they have been lucky enough to hear from their parents these stories. Some did not even know they were Jewish until they grew up, because their parents thought it was best to hide it, lest they say something in front of people. The young people are left with nothing but the ability to imagine what it was like before, and what it would be like if it is renovated. They very much wish that they could contact these people (the ones living outside), but these people are very paranoid and have doubts that they are really Jewish. The young people are hungry for knowledge, they are hungry to hear more about what happened, and what it was like before the war, they want to talk but are afraid, both of talking publicly (and the possible/probable consequences of such an act), and of talking to these people, for fear that they would be rejected. One of them recently contacted these people, told them he would like to talk to them and get to know them. He even gave them his real full name, and he got nothing but… silence. Anyway, if they want to think there are no Lebanese Jews left, “not more than 50″, they are free to think that; but at the end of the day, the blame for ignorance is on those who have shunned those who want to talk and learn more, and in return tell them more about their situation in Lebanon. I am frankly disappointed with these people, and don’t have much hope that things could change any time soon. I was thinking of whether or not to e-mail (name removed for here for privacy reasons), but I have decided not to. Maybe when they are interested enough, they can find the contact information and get in touch with me.
S.
Hasan Said,
January 17, 2007 @ 10:01 pm
Marhaba,
Its my first time to write to u guys..
S. kicked me (in the positive direction) to publish my letter:
I am so much rejoiced.. deeply happy. I am a Lebanese muslim person who is very glad to hear from a Lebanese jewish brother talking about the Lebanese jewish society…
May god help you and bless you.. and waiting for the email part about the renovation of the main synagogue in the Wadi..!! Aaron!!!
Keep the great work… I love you guys
Howie Said,
January 18, 2007 @ 6:30 am
You never know for sure if people are who they say they are…but everytime I read something like this it lifts my cyncial heart.
lycanthropy Said,
January 18, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
u r lebanese as much as anyone else, as much as sunni, shia, orthodox, maronite, armenian, druze, seryan, alawite are lebanese
As far I concerned u r welcome in lebanon
Battal Agha Said,
January 18, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
It just does not make sense. No one has said that the Lebanese jews are not proud of their heritage. On the contrary, they are proud and insist in desplaying their roots. Now as regards the issue of returning to live in Lebanon, that is certainly another story and no one would blame them for not returning. After all, look at the Hezbollah and their allies? For them a jew is the ennemy… Do you think they will return under these conditions? Before last july 06 war, I know that hundreds of Lebanse jews came to Lebanon as tourists. Many were IN lebanon when the war started and had to be evacuated by their respective Governments. They came to visit as Brazilians, Canadians, US, French, Swiss, etc… This must have been a heck of an experience, don’t you think so??
Lydia Sizer Said,
January 18, 2007 @ 10:56 pm
Hello, my name is Lydia Sizer and I am working on a thesis through Brown University in the United States looking at blogs. I am looking at how blogs affect mutual understanding among people of different ethnic backgrounds and I was wondering if you would be willing to take a survey I have prepared for my research. This research would give you a voice in determining whether blogs would be useful in aiding global security and counteracting racism. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to email me at Lydia_Sizer@brown.edu. Thank you so much for your time. For convenience, please enter “thesis survey” as the subject of your email as I will not know who is writing to me. Thanks again! In addition, you will receive an email later from lscello@aol.com. This is because my school email is routed through my home email. Thanks!
–Lydia Sizer
Alain Said,
January 19, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Bonjour,
My neighbour in ****, Lebanon is a Lebanese jew… he is a great person and he has a big family. Do never believe those who say that there are no jews in Lebanon. My neighbor is one of them and he has jewish relatives, I will help them if they suffer. I would even give them my life.
This is amazing.. It’s fantastic to share life with Lebanese jews..
Lebanon = Christians + Jews + Muslims
dany Said,
January 20, 2007 @ 11:40 am
keep working guys we r waiting ur back to the land of freedom
long live lebanon
labbayq lebneen
Sami M.K Said,
January 21, 2007 @ 11:40 am
I dunno if it’s right or not to write this out of security reasons, but Lebanon has a lot more than 50 Jews. I can tell you there are certainly without a doubt more than a 1000.. I cannot disclose my findings deeply, but I can give you some web-refferences that also help bring out the truth.
–
If you enter http://www.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=LE (a listing of ethnic/religious groups in Lebanon), you will find “Jew” and population “1,100″.
If you enter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon#Demographics, you will see this written: “A small minority of Jews live in central Beirut, Byblos, and Bhamdoun”
Suha Said,
January 22, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
In my years living in Lebanon (my whole life basically) in a relatively mixed neighborhood (Ras Beirut) I met many Jews who were not afraid to admit they are Jews even in the midst of the civil war. This changed drastically after the Israeli invasion of 1982. But the reaction of people I know today, the pervasive desire to have Lebanese Jews as part of Lebanon again, the fact that Jewish sites are not objects of deliberate attacks and much, much more… All this has me convinced that if there is a threat to Jews in Lebanon, it remains the threat of a lunatic minority and does not represent the feelings of anyone I know (that spans all sects and all political parties without exception).
The heartening comments on this wonderful blog are further proof for my conviction.
On another merry note, I know that SOLIDERE has someone on the job of renovating the Wadi Abu Jmil synagogue. It is a pity that the Jewish community will not be taking part of it. A bunch of us tried to involve them in the renovation more than a decade ago, but their reluctance is understandable.
Anonymous Said,
January 22, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Suha, yes, things did change after 1982, drastically so. A series of kidnappings of Jews by a group called منظمة المستضعفين, and they were executed.
I mention some of the articles that appeared in Annahar, by date and title:
24 Dec. 1985 - منظمة المستضعفين أعلنت إعدام أحد اليهود المخطوفين في بيروت (حاي كوهين حلالا)
1 Jan. 1986 - منظمة المستضعفين رداً على اسرائيل: أعدمنا يهودياً ثانياً من المخطوفين (ايزاك طراب)
31 Dec. 1986 - منظمة المستضعفين أعلنت إعدام 3 يهود خُطِفوا في لبنان (يوسف يهودا بنستي، هنري منّ، ايلي سرور).
Hussein Said,
January 30, 2007 @ 3:16 pm
dudes.. come back..
am sure that if the jews of lebanon take a firm position AGAINST “ISRAEL”,
(A NORMAL THING, THAT EVERY LEBANESE SHOULD DO, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE PRO, like Geagea, Jmeiel, Junblatt, Hariri, Hemade), Hezbollah will be more than pleased of receiving them..
YES, to jews coming back to leb.. NO, to israel..
i’ll be more than happy having jews in my neighbourhood..
i’d like to meet jews livin in lebanon..
Battal Agha Said,
February 1, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Ya Hussein,
Sorry, your argument is so bad that you are one the main reason why Lebanon will never be at Peace.You want Jews (and maybe Christians..) like dhimmis… Sorry, that is a no go ya khayyeh…
Someone Said,
February 2, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Ya Battal Agha, I call on you to transform your vocabulary into a more tolerant and non-provocative one; as a Lebanese Jew, I do not see anything wrong with what Hussein said. If you do, this is not the place to air your anti-Muslim discourse though I am not the manager of this site, and it’s not up to me.
This is the problem —- people attempting to conflate between Judaism and zionism in an attempt to give us a bad name and associate us with the actions of the zionists. What Hussein said is the complete opposite of this, however, and I respect him for this. He, unlike you, knows the difference between zionism and Judaism, between zionists and Jews.
R Sahyoun Said,
February 3, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
I agree with Battal Agha. Arabs CONSIDER accepting Jews PERHAPS if they curse Israel day and night, night & day. This mentality has to change; People should be respected for who they are regardless of their beliefs.
Admitting in Lebanon that you are PRO-PEACE with Israel is an accusation after which you might be condemned as a traitor, hence be executed!
I do not see where the big deal is if some Lebanese support a peace treaty with Israel? How can Lebanon be called a democracy if it cannot ensure its citizens the right to state their beliefs out loud?
worriedlebanese Said,
February 17, 2007 @ 12:46 am
I believe both of the arguments are in a way valid.
I myself am a firm advocate of peace in the Middle-East (with Israel, with Syria, with the Palestinians, between Sunnis and Shiites…), and I fully think that the gradual disappearance of the Jewish community, its current complete public invisibility, and its religious uprooting (no rabbi, no religious holidays, no synagogue in Lebanon) are a great impoverishment to Lebanon and the model it seeks (or should seek) to represent.
But mixing both issues, the recognition of the Jewish community in Lebanon and the militancy for peace with Israel is counterproductive.
On the other hand, using the Lebanese Jews against Israel is unacceptable and shocking. If some of the members of the community choose to do so, it’s obviously their right. But one cannot ask them to reject their brothers in faith and to choose between their nationality and their religious belonging. Do we ask that of any other community in Lebanon?
Their position is obviously an uncomfortable one and that’s why it’s the business of all Lebanese to make sure that they do not suffer from it. One doesn’t have the right to use a Lebanese community as a political weapon. It’s not only morally condemnable, but it is also profoundly unjust and even criminal.
david.s Said,
February 23, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
for “someone” i am lebanse jew so please speak for your s3lef
and you dont know what you saying
Ghayss Tarraf Said,
March 8, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Hussein, Hizbollah is not the one who will decide if he will take Lebanese back or not. Hozbollah is not the state!
Lebanese Jews are Lebanese and HAVE the right to come back. If hizbollah like it or not.
By the way, why you guys never mention your names? Why don’t you break the wall of fear?
Mo Said,
March 12, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
People who talk about Jews condemning Israel in order to be accepted in Lebanon forget that in all the years of conflict between Lebanon and Israel, NO LEBANESE JEW has ever been charged or convicted of colaborating with Israel.
It is either the Shias, Sunnis, Christians or Druze. In my opinion, if any community in Lebanon has been faithful to this country its the Jewish one.
In terms of Jews comming back, its a long shot as even middle class Lebanese Muslims and Christians are begining to leave again sighting the present political situation. Maybe sometime in the future when things have settled down, for now all we can do is prepare and advocate this cause so when the time comes, there will be no waste of time.
I hope, wish and pray one day i’ll get to spend a Shabbat at the Magen Avraham after its restored to its former splendour.
Salam